Alastair Cook is looking to the future after England’s 2-1 series win over India (Picture: AP)

While it is only natural to look back when trying to put a momentous series victory in its proper context, this success in India bodes extremely well ahead of what promises to be one of the biggest ever years for English cricket.

Alastair Cook’s side return to India in January for a five-match one-day series before moving onto New Zealand for three matches in each format of the game.

A return Test series against the Kiwis is followed by the Champions Trophy on home soil, which will act as a barometer of the one-day side’s progress ahead of the 2015 World Cup.

But in 2013 an Australian team led by Michael Clarke will present England with their biggest challenge.

When Australia arrive in England next summer, it will start the sequence of ten successive Ashes Tests as both sides lock horns in back-to-back series.

It will define Cook’s fledging captaincy but he has made it clear there is no danger of England resting on their laurels.

‘As a new side, this bodes well for the future,’ said Cook. ‘But as with any side when you’re moving forward you can never be satisfied with what you have achieved. When you are, you are in a dangerous position.’